The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-11-10
Daacing for the Wine.

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General J. M. Leach spends consider.
able of his time in Washington with his
son, J. NJ. Leach, Jr., who is chief of
division in the Sixth Auditors Office.
The General is as full Of "reminiscences
and good stories as ever, and one which
l heard him relate to q party of North
Carolinians the other evening will bear
repeating. Said be, in effect:
"You know that Zeb Vance used TO
be member of the National House be.
fore the war, and Sion Rogers represent.
ed the Raleigh. District in Congress.
Well, some friends sent Frank Shober,
of Salisbury, and me a case of very fine
wine one day. Zeb and Sion found it
out somehow, and they used to come
around to see US mighty often. In fact,
they became great friends of ours, stick.
ing. closer than brothers the wine
lasted.
"One night, after they had relieved us
of half dozen bottles, more or less,
they got to feeling pretty good, and after
while Zeb remarked that he believed
he was; just about the best dancer that
North Carolina ever sent to Congress.
"Now, nobody ever heard of Zeb
Vance's virtues as dancer before.
Every one knows that he doesn't in the
least resemble ballet girl. He amt
built right to dance and I didn't believe
he had ever had any experience in that
direction before that night, but he stuck
to his assertion.
"Well, Zeb kept repeating the state
ment until finally Sion says: 'Zeb, I
don't count myself any great shakes as q
practical exponent of the terpsichorean
art, but I allow that I can just dance
the hind legs off of you
"Now, Sion Rodgers was built like a
bean pole; he was over six feet high and
as thin as wafer, and no living man
ever saw him without a big pair of eye.
glasses adjusted to his long nose. If it
was funny to think of zeb Vance's dane
ing, it was simply ridiculous to consider
Sion Rogers in that connection. But
shober said he believed Sion could down
Zeb; I asserted to the contrary, and
Shober bet me 500.
"The room was cleared, Zeb and Sion
peeled off their wearing apparel until
nothing was left but nocturnal habili-
ments, and the two contestants took their
positions on the floor. 1t was an i'll
assorted pair-never were two men more
unlike. Shober and I were to do the
patting, and Zeb and Sion were told that
the man who stayed on the floor longest
vas to have half dozen bottles of our
wine. Shober started the old plantation
pat; the dancers caught step and went
at it.
"sGo it, Sion r shouted Shober.
Buckle down to it, Zebp I ex-
claimed, and both men began to rattle
off double Ohufle back-step that would
have turned any niger in North Caro-
lima green with envy.
'Time passed.
midnight came and went, the clock
on the mantel struck one. The dancing
still went on.
daylight appeared. Vance was be-
ginning to double like hunchback, and
he was sweating like draft horse. Sion
seemed to grow taller every minute; bis
head was thrown back, his arms stood
akimbo, only his toes appeared to touch
the floor, and not a drop of perspiration
was visible about him.
"The hotel breakfast bell rang. Sho.
ber and I we're nearly exhausted,
although we took turns in patting; but
the dancing still went on. Zeb's shirt
was sticking to him like huge court
plaster, but Sion looked as cool as q
Christmas snow storm. Zeb was bent
over until he had nearly assumed sit
ting posture, his bow-legs looking as
round as barrel hoop. Sion continued
to grow taller, and his eye glasses still
preserved their equilibrium on the end
of his nose.
"When 12 o'clock came and Congress
assembled We suggested recess. But
no, Sion wouldn't hear to it. Finally
saw that Zeb, who now stood only about
two feet two inches in his sock, was about
to subside, and l gave up.
"The artists then once more RECALLED
themselves with our wine, and Zeb went
to bed. But Sion didn't. After dancing
ten hours without stop, he went to the
House of Representatives and made 8
big speech" ."-MasweN German in the
Southern Home.
-"How does it happen that there are
so many old maids among the school
teachers ?" asked reporter of a.teachel
the other day. Because school teachers
are, as rule, women of sense; and nc
woman will give up $50 position for 9
$40 man." was the reply.
= The first degree of folly is to think
ones self wise, the next TO tell others
90 ..tha third 10 despise all counsel.